Controller-clutch.



E. H; WEST. CONTROLLER CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1910.

988,234., Patented'Mar. 28, 1911.

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EDWARD H. WEST, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CONTROLLER-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

Application filed March 1, 1910. Serial No. 546,679.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. W nsr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama,have invented new and useful Improvements in Controller-Clutches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In the operation of vehicles and conveyances equipped with steeringmechanism adapted to be operated by means of a hand wheel it isdesirable at times, particularly on straight stretches, to secure thehand or steering wheel against possible movement, thereby enabling theoperator to relax the grip upon said steering wheel with the result thatgreater ease and comfort in the operation of mechanically propelledmachines are attained.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of alock or clutchwhereby the controller wheel of steering mechanism may be made securewhen released from the grip or pressure of the hand, thereby preventingany movement of the steering mechanism from the fixed or set position.

A further purpose of the invention is to combine with the clutch or lockmeans whereby force exerted through the hands either by the weight,pressure or grip thereof effects release of the clutch or lock, so thatthe steering mechanism may be operated in the usual manner.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of constructionand combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlyset forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, forming a part of the application, Figure 1 isa top plan view of a steering wheel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is asection on the line a:w of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the partswhen the lock or clutch is released. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2,showing the clutch in locked position.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and inclicated in all the views of the drawing, by the samereference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the fixed post of a steering mechanism such asapplied to mechanically propelled machines of the automobile type and 2indicates the hand or steering wheel which is movable with reference tothe fixed steering post 1 and secured to the movable steering post toturn therewith. These parts may be of any construction and arrangementsuch as commonly applied to the various makes and types of machines. Inaccordance with this invention a clutch or look is provided andcooperates with the parts 1 and 2 so as to secure the same when thesteering wheel is relieved of the influence of the hand of the operator,thereby holding the steering mechanism in the required position. Theclutch or lock comprises essentially two members 8 and A. The member 3is secured to the fixed steering post 1 and is provided with clutchteeth 5. The member A is connected with the steering wheel 2 and isprovided with corresponding clutch teeth 6. When the steering wheel 2 isunder the influence of the operator either by being gripped or by thehand resting thereon the clutch teeth 5 and 6 of the clutch or lockmembers are disengaged, thereby admitting of the steering mechanismbeing moved freely to direct the machine in its travel in the mannerwell understood. When the steering wheel 2 is relieved of the directinfluence of the operator the clutch teeth 5 and 6 are brought intoengagement, thereby locking the steering wheel to the fixed steeringpost and preventing any movement of the steering mechanism from the setposition. A spring 7 cooperates with the clutch members .to bring theminto engagement, but the tension of the spring 7 is such as to admit ofthe same being overcome by a light force, as by the hand gripping thesteering wheel or resting lightly thereon.

The member: 3 may be secured to the steering post 1 in any manner, as bymeans of set screws 8, and embodies a sleeve 9, which is spaced from thesteering post and encircles the spring 7 so as to protect the same frominjury. The member A is provided with a flange 10 and encircles thesteering post 1 below the member 3 and is adapted to turn freelythereon. A sleeve 11 encircles the sleeve 9 and is adapted to turnfreely thereon and is secured at its lower end to the flange 10 of themember A. An inner flange 12 is formed at the upper end of the sleeve 11and overhangs the spring 7 and sleeve 9 and encircles the upper portionof the steering post 1 at a polnt below the hub of the steering wheel 2.A series of lugs 13 project outwardly from the sleeve 11 and have thespokes 14 of the hand piece fastened thereto in any manner. The spokes lt of the hand piece 15 are adapted to engage the spokes 1b of thesteering wheel, so that when the member f is locked to the member 3 thesteering wheel 2 will be prevented from casual movement in eitherdirection. The outer upper ends of the spokes l t are formed with slots17 through which the outer ends of the spokes 16 pass, thereby admittingof the hand piece 15 having a limited vertical movement essential toadmit of engagement or disengagement of the clutch teeth 5 and (5. Thehand piece 15 is of anmilar form and is arranged in close proximity tothe rim of the steering wheel 2, so as to be conveniently engaged by thehand when the operator has the steering wheel under control, either bygripping the same or resting the hand thereon. For convenience the handpiece 15 is arranged above the rim of the steering wheel so as toreceive the direct pressure of the hand when exerted to more or controlthe steering wheel. For convenience the hand piece 1 5 and spokes letare of integral forn'iation. being struck from a sheet metal blank, thehand piece being of concavo-convex form in cross section so as toconform approximately to the circular or convex outline of the upperportion of the steering wheel.

A steering wheel and fixed steering post equipped with the inventioninsures a looking of the steering wheel when the latter is relieved ofthe influence of the hand, the spring 7 coming into play and moving theclutch member at upward so as to bring the clutch teeth 6 thereof intoengagement with the clutch teeth 5 of the member 3. This is of advantagewhen the steering mechanism set for a straight stretch, thereby enablingboth hands of the operator to be free and momentarily relaxed. Uponapplying force to the steering wheel either by gripping the same or byplacing the hand thereon the hand piece is depressed, thereby moving theclutch member 4 away from the clutch member 3 and releasing the steeringwheel, which is free to be operated in the usual manner.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In combination with the hand wheel of steering mechanism, a fixedlock member having a sleeve, a helical spring located within saidsleeve, a movable lock member arranged to engage the first mentionedlock member and having a sleeve encircling the aforesaid sleeve andprovided with an inwardly extending portion to receive the end thrust ofsaid helical spring, and a hand piece carried by the hand wheel andmovable therewith and connected with the movable lock member.

In combination with the hand wheel of steering mechanism, a circularhand piece rotatable with the hand wheel and movable toward and from theplane thereof, a fixed lock member of circular form, a second lockmember having connection with the hand piece and coi'uprising a sleeveand an in wardly extending flange, and a helical spring inclosed by thesleeve of the movable lock member and confined between the flangethereof and the said fixed lock member.

3. In combination with the hand wheel of steering mechanism comprising arim and spokes, a circular hand piece, spokes connected with said handpiece and extending across the path of the spokes of the hand wheel toengage therewith, a fixed lock memher, a movable lock member, a springnormally pressing the two lock members into locked engagemen andconnecting means between the spokes of the hand piece and the movablelock member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDlVARD H. EST.

Witnesses Iva VELTMAN, JOHN F. ILLIAMs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

